[OO Hoffmann, Summer Birds of the Rhine. [oct 



Redbreast (Erithacus rubecula) . 



This bird, so endeared to the British heart, rears his brood 

 in clearings and in thickets; he is retiring rather than shy, and 

 several that I saw were in yards and about dwellings, to which, 

 as is well known, the bird resorts in winter for crumbs and broken 

 meat. In a garden in Heidelberg I saw one frequently, hopping 

 about among the tables disputing with Chaffinches for the fallen 

 crumbs. 



The Red-breast keeps to the ground much more than his rela- 

 tives, the Redstarts, but like them he has a trick of flirting his tail 

 and courtesying when observed. 



The Tits (Panis). 



Europe is fortunate in the abundance of these cheerful and 

 familiar birds. We are thankful all winter for our Chickadee, 

 but in Germany, I was assured, it was no uncommon sight to see, 

 in winter, four species, all picking at the same bone or candle, 

 suspended for their use. I found six species in all, four of which 

 were generally distributed and common. 



The commonest was the Blue Tit {P. ccernleus), a charming and 

 lovable bird, richly colored and active as a squirrel. I found an 

 apple tree on one occasion, which was, so to speak, infested with 

 Blue Tits ; they hung to the smaller twigs, pecked at the leaves, 

 and gleaned along the branches. 



Two other species, which are often associated, are the Coal Tit 

 {P. ater), and the Swamp Tit {P. palustris). These two and the 

 Blue Tit, are smaller than our Chickadee, hardly larger in fact 

 than Kinglets. In winter they are everywhere, but in summer 

 the Coal Tit seems to prefer coniferous woods. These species are 

 nimble and noisy, prying out insects from the bark, hammering 

 .open seeds, and convoying through the woods flocks of Kinglets, 

 Creepers and other birds. 



The longest and most sedate of the family is the Great Titmouse 

 {Partis major), half an inch larger than our Chickadee. All four 

 of these species are loquacious and their notes are numerous. 



